Scout Travel Tips Wiki

Ideas for day trips? Please list here or refer from here to the travel destination page.

Mike Summers - August 2010:

Here's some good day trips & quick overnight trips that I have done; check the city page on this website for further information:

Albuquerque - City Bus #50 from airport to Olde Towne ( http://www.cabq.gov/transit/bus-routes-and-schedules/routes-and-schedules ); you'll need a rental car to drive to Santa Fe although there is a train that connects Albuquerque to Santa Fe.
Aspen - Free shuttle bus from airport to city ( http://www.rfta.com/ ); rental car not needed
Atlanta - Light rail from the airport ( http://www.itsmarta.com/airport.aspx ); rental car not needed
Boston - From JetBlue baggage claim, follow signs to the free shuttle bus island for the MBTA "Blue Line". The bus takes you to the MBTA Airport Station. Take MBTA Blue Line into city where you can connect to Orange or Green Lines( http://www.massport.com/logan-airport/to-and-from-logan/public-transportation/#blueline ); no rental car needed.
Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) from airport to city (light rail or bus) ( http://www.transitchicago.com/orangeline/ ); no rental car needed
Cincinnati - TANK Bus to Downtown http://www.tankbus.org/Portals/0/Documents/Schedules/2X-3-31-2012.pdf
Cleveland - RTA Red Line to downtown ( http://www.riderta.com/routes/redline ); no rental car needed.
Dallas - You'll need a rental car; Limited Light Rail (DART) Service; ( http://www.dfwairport.com/transport/public/p1_007747.php )
Detroit - SMART Bus Route 125 to Downtown ( http://www.metroairport.com/GroundTransportation/PublicTransit.aspx and http://www.smartbus.org/schedules/overview/Pages/default.aspx )
Houston - METRO Bus Route 102 from Airport to Downtown ( http://www.ridemetro.org/SchedulesMaps/Pdfs/102-iah.pdf )
Kansas City - You'll need a rental car; Limited bus (Route 129X) service to downtown; no service on weekends or holidays( http://www.kcata.org/maps_schedules/routes/129_boardwalk_kci )
Los Angeles - You'll need to rent a car
Milwaukee - MCTS Route 80 connects to Downtown; GreenLine connects to Bay Shore Town Center (Website: http://www.ridemcts.com/
Minneapolis - Light rail from the airport ( http://www.metrotransit.org/metro-blue-line ); rental car not needed to Mall of America or downtown
Nashville - Limited Public Bus Transportation (Route 18) from Airport to Downtown depending on hour of the day;( http://www.nashvillemta.org/Nashville-MTA-airport-service.asp ).
New York - If flying into LGA on F9, take the Q70 Bus from LGA terminal to MTA station; then take the 7 train into city. If flying into JFK on Jet Blue take the AirTrain Orange/Red Line from the terminal to Jamaica Station ($5.00), then take the MTA (NY Subway) E Train into the City ( http://www.mta.info/maps/submap.html ); rental car not needed.
New Orleans - Limited Express Bus (E-2) Service to Downtown http://www.jeffersontransit.org/default.php
Orange County - I always rent a car, but there is the OCTA (bus line); the OCTA 71 bus takes you to Newport Beach;( http://www.octa.net/Bus-Transit/Overview/ )
Phoenix - Light rail to Tempe and downtown PHX ( http://www.valleymetro.org/metrolightrail ); rental car not needed
Portland - Light rail Red Line from airport ( http://www.trimet.org/max/index.htm ); rental car not needed
St. Louis - Light rail from airport to the base of the Gateway Arch - hotels nearby( http://www.metrostlouis.org/PlanYourTrip/MapsSchedules/MetroLink.aspx ); rental car not needed
San Diego - Bus (Route 992) from the airport to the pier and Gaslamp district ( http://www.sdmts.com/mtscr/Route.aspx?r=992 ); you'll need to rent a car to get to La Jolla or Del Mar
San Francisco - Take the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) into the city ( http://www.bart.gov/ ); rental car not needed
Salt Lake City - Take the Utah Transit Authority Green Line Light Rail from the Airport to Downtown (Website: http://www.rideuta.com/mc/?page=Bus-BusHome-Route704 ); rental car not needed.
Seattle - Light rail from airport ( http://www.soundtransit.org/Schedules/Central-Link-light-rail ); rental car not needed
Washington, DC - Take the Metro at DCA ( http://www.wmata.com/rail/station_detail.cfm?station_id=93 ); rental car not needed; you have 4 hours to visit!

I have posted my experiences under each city of these cities. Enjoy!

Elizabeth Nance - September 2011:

My son lives in Chicago and I visit there ALL the time! Yes, it is a great day/one night/two night trip! You never need a car and the public transportation is the most user friendly I have found. The first flight to MDW is often easy to get on...getting you to Chicago in plenty of time to jump on the Orange Line right from the airport. http://www.transitchicago.com/ I usually load $20 on a card and give the leftover to my son or save it for the next trip, but you can buy a day pass as well...very cheap!
Once I know I am on the flight, I have my husband Priceline a 4 star hotel in the Millennium Park area. I start the bid at $69 and go from there. Depending on what's happing in Chicago, you can usually get something nice for under $100.
http://explorechicago.org/city/en/millennium.html One of the best things to do if the weather is good is the Architecture boat tour. This has to reserved in advance because it is so popular, but well worth it! http://caf.architecture.org/page.aspx?pid=574
Contact me if you need more help or info...enjoy!!! Scout Elizabeth Nance

Day Trips